When it comes to providing water for birds, the container you choose can make a big difference. The right bird waterer will keep the water clean and free from dirt, debris and algae while making it easy for birds to access and drink from it. There are a few key factors to consider when selecting the best water container for birds in your backyard. Location Where you place the bird waterer is the first important consideration. It should be located in an open area of your yard that gets some shade during the hottest parts of the day. Place it…
Author: Alan Hernbroth
Lovebirds are known for their tendency to fluff up their feathers. This behavior is completely normal and serves several purposes for your bird. Understanding why your lovebird fluffs up can help you provide better care. What Does It Mean When a Lovebird Fluffs Up? When a lovebird fluffs up, it puffs out all of its contour feathers to appear larger than it is. The bird will hold its feathers away from its body, almost like it is attempting to create a feather barrier around itself. This is done for the following reasons: Warmth – Fluffing feathers helps trap warm air…
Identifying a feather you found can be a fun and educational experience! With over 10,000 species of birds in the world, each with their own unique plumage, it can also be a challenging task. However, by following some basic steps and using a few online resources, you can get closer to determining which type of feather you have discovered. Take Note of the Feather’s Size One of the first things to look at when trying to identify a feather is its size. Feathers come in a huge range of dimensions, from just an inch or two long in small songbirds,…
The Western Meadowlark is a medium-sized songbird found in grasslands across western North America. Here are three interesting facts about this iconic prairie bird: Fact 1: Distinctive Appearance The Western Meadowlark has a distinctive appearance that makes it easily recognizable. Adults have yellow underparts with a black “V” shaped band across the chest. Their heads are striped with black and yellow, and they have long pointed bills. The backs of Western Meadowlarks are brown with white bars on the wings and outer tail feathers. Males and females look similar, though females tend to be paler in color. Juveniles are more…
The black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a widely distributed wading bird in the avocetinidae family. It is found across much of the world in wetland habitats. Understanding where black-winged stilts live provides insights into their habitat requirements and conservation needs. This article will explore the global distribution and habitat preferences of the black-winged stilt. Where Do Black-Winged Stilts Live? Black-winged stilts have an extremely wide distribution across the world’s continents. They are found in: Africa In Africa, black-winged stilts occur widely across the continent. They are present in: North Africa – Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt West Africa – Senegal,…
Quick Answer Nighthawks and whippoorwills are both medium-sized nocturnal birds found in North America. The main differences between them are: Appearance – Nighthawks have long, pointed wings and are brownish-gray. Whippoorwills are more rounded and have brown, black, and white plumage. Range – Nighthawks are found across much of North America except for the southeast. Whippoorwills live in the southeastern United States. Habitat – Nighthawks prefer open areas like grasslands, deserts, and cities. Whippoorwills live in forests and woods. Diet – Nighthawks eat insects caught on the wing. Whippoorwills eat insects and other small prey picked from the ground. Nesting…
Emus are large, flightless birds that are found in Australia. They stand up to 6 feet tall and can weigh over 100 pounds. Emus are members of the ratite family, which also includes ostriches, rheas, cassowaries, and kiwis. So how friendly are these giant birds towards humans? Emu Behavior In the wild, emus tend to avoid humans and are generally wary of human presence. They have good eyesight and hearing which helps them detect potential threats from a distance. Emus will usually flee when approached by humans, though males may stay behind briefly to defend their territory. Their powerful legs…
Common loons (Gavia immer) are large diving birds found across North America. They are known for their striking black and white plumage and their eerie, haunting calls. Common loons are a symbol of wilderness and solitude, but they are also very territorial birds that are willing to fight fiercely to defend their nesting areas. This leads many lakeside residents and visitors to wonder – are common loons aggressive? The short answer is yes – common loons can show aggressive behavior, especially during the breeding season when they are defending nesting territories. However, loon aggression usually only manifests as territorial displays…
Bird mimicry in dinosaurs refers to the physical traits and behaviors some dinosaur species evolved to resemble modern birds. This allowed them to fill similar ecological niches to birds and likely helped them evade predators or attract prey. Some key examples of dinosaur bird mimics include oviraptorosaurs, dromaeosaurids, and early tyrannosauroids. Main Examples of Dinosaur Bird Mimics Oviraptorosaurs Oviraptorosaurs were a group of feathered, beaked, bird-like dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period. They included species like Oviraptor and Citipati. Oviraptorosaurs had: Light, hollow bones like birds. Arms specialized for folding against the body like bird wings. Large, toothless beaks and…
The Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) is a medium-sized songbird found in grasslands and agricultural areas in eastern North America. It is known for its bright yellow breast and melodious, flute-like song. Understanding the habitat requirements of the Eastern Meadowlark can help guide conservation efforts for this declining species. What kind of habitat does the Eastern Meadowlark prefer? The Eastern Meadowlark prefers open grassland habitats with dense, moderately tall grasses and abundant bare ground. It favors native grasslands, pastures, hayfields, abandoned fields, and grassy roadsides. The amount of bare ground is key – the meadowlark needs open areas to forage on…